Using a bicycle tire inner tube to make a tie down strap

ABSTRACT

A tie down strap is used for securing cargo or to attach various objects. A tie down strap is made from a bicycle tire inner tube and clips which can be removeably and adjustably attached to either end of the bicycle tire inner tube which is cut along a radial axis.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/316,947, filed Dec. 12, 2011, entitled METHOD FOR USING A BICYCLE TIRE INNER TUBE TO MAKE A TIE DOWN STRAP, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/459,401, filed Dec. 13, 2010, entitled METHOD FOR USING A BICYCLE INNER TUBE TO MAKE A TIE DOWN STRAP.

FIELD

The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for making an adjustable tie down strap.

BACKGROUND

Generally elastomeric cords used to tie down cargo or attach various objects are comprised of so-called bungee cords which include a length of pre-fabricated elastic cord with a hook made from a bent metal rod permanently secured to both ends. The metal hooks create the danger of scratching painted or finished surfaces as well as the danger of injuring a person's eye if they come loose and snap back. In addition, bungee cords are not long enough so stretch around an automobile from front to back or even from side to side, so they cannot be used to strap cargo to a car or truck. A long bungee cord would be expensive because of the cost of a long pre-fabricated elastomeric cord. Bungee cords are not easily attached to themselves to form a loop, because they do not lock together in a manner which prevents disengagement when the bias from the elastomeric cord is released. Finally the length of a typical bungee cord is not adjustable because the hooks are permanently fixed to the ends of the elastomeric cord. Therefore there is a need for an elastomeric strap which is adjustable in length, can be used over long distances, such as between front and rear bumpers of a car, and has ends which do not present dangers of scratching finished surfaces or injuring eyes.

SUMMARY

The present invention solves the problems in prior art elastomeric straps by providing a pair of clips which can be removeably and adjustably attached to a bicycle tire inner tube and which also can be locked to each other. Bicycle tire inner tubes are relatively long and can be stretched to about three times their relaxed length. They also have no cost and are readily available, because they are generally discarded when they develop an air leak and cause a flat tire on a bicycle. The clips which are attached to the bicycle tire inner tubes in the present invention are preferably made of plastic so they will not scratch a surface to which they are attached, and their ends are rounded so they do not present the danger of injuring a person's eye if they break or come loose. Each clip has one end portion comprised of a planar surface which includes a pair of slots formed therethrough for securing the bicycle tire inner tube so that the bicycle tire inner tube can be slid through the slots to create a functioning strap of an adjustable length. Each clip also has a second end portion comprised of an engaging means for engaging surfaces such as a grommet, an edge of an automobile body, a metal rod, a right angle such as a corner of a garage or other building, or another clip. The second end portion may comprise a hook or J shape which is substantially in the same plane as the first end portion. Alternatively, the second end portion may comprise an area which has been bent into a U-shape or S-shape which allows two clips to be locked together so that a single strap of the present invention can have its two ends locked together to form a loop, and so multiple straps of the present invention can be attached in sequence to create one very long elastomeric strap. The U-shape or S-shape embodiments may include a lug that can be used to engage a structure such as a grommet in a tarpaulin and which fits into a corresponding opening on another clip when two clips are locked together. A method is described for manufacturing clips of the U-shape or S-shape embodiments

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a first device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the FIG. 1 device hooked together with another substantially identical device.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the devices shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional end view of the bed of a pickup truck in which two devices of the present invention are hooked together as shown in FIG. 2 to secure a load of cargo in the bed of the truck.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of a second device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5A is a partial perspective view of a device similar to FIG. 5 except including a lug and lug receiving slot.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the FIG. 5 device hooked together with another substantially identical device.

FIG. 6A is a side elevation view of the FIG. 5A device hooked together with another substantially identical FIG. 5A device.

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of a third device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of the FIG. 7 device hooked together with another substantially identical device.

FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of a fourth device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the current invention to use it to attach a tarpaulin to the side of a pickup truck in which three devices of the present invention are used.

FIG. 11 is a side elevation view of a sheet of plastic which has been cut for manufacturing clips.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Indicated generally at 10 in FIG. 1 is a device constructed in accordance with the present invention. The device includes a commercially available bicycle tire inner tube 12 that has been cut along a radial axis to create a first end 14 and a second end 15 (in FIG. 4). Device 10 also includes a first clip 16 and a second clip 17 (in FIG. 4) that are substantially identical to one another. Clip 16 includes a pair of parallel slots 18, 20 (shown partially in dashed-line configuration) formed therethrough. Slots 18 and 20 are formed adjacent a first end 22 of the clip. The end 14 of bicycle tire inner tube 12 is frictionally engaged with clip 16 by threading it through slots 18 and 20 as shown.

Although the inner tube engaging openings in the illustrated embodiment are slots, many other types of openings could serve the purpose of frictionally engaging the bicycle tire inner tube well enough to prevent slipping in response to tensile forces while also allowing the user to adjust the effective length of the resulting elastomeric strap by sliding the bicycle tire inner tube through the openings. For example, tapered slots could allow for very quick adjustment. Similarly, either one or both of the slots might have one open end to facilitate inserting and adjusting the bicycle tire inner tube. Although the slots in the illustrated embodiments are shown parallel, it is to be understood that the slots do not have to be parallel to one another. Although the illustrated embodiments are made of plastic other materials might be employed as well.

A U-shaped cross section is shown adjacent a second end 24 of the clip, as shown more clearly in FIG. 3. A lug 26 extends from end 24 of the clip and a rectangular opening 28 is formed through a second clip 30, in FIGS. 2 and 3. The dimensions of opening 28 are slightly wider and higher than lug 26, as viewed from end 24. This permits engagement of a pair of clips, such as clip 16 and clip 30—which is substantially identical to clip 16—as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The lugs on each of the clips, like lug 26 on clip 16, are also well suited for hooking through a round opening, for example, a grommet on a tarpaulin. In FIG. 2 a bicycle tire inner tube 32 is engaged with slots, such as slots 18 and 20 in clip 16, in the same manner as the bicycle tire inner tube is connected to the other clips.

In FIG. 4, boxes such as 36 and 38 comprise a load in a pickup truck bed 34. Clips 16 and 30 are hooked together near the middle of the load as depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3 to create a device which includes two bicycle tire inner tubes linked in series. The other end of inner tube 32 includes another clip 40, secured thereto in the same fashion as each of the other clips. Each of clips 17 and 40 are hooked over a downward-projecting metal potion 42,44, correspondingly, on opposite sides of the truck bed. The clips are well suited for hooking onto the edges of metal, like the sheet metal edges found on the edges of car bodies, the rain gutters found on the edges of car roofs, or car bumpers.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, a second device 46 is also constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Device 46 includes a clip 48 having an S-shaped portion 50. In FIG. 6, a second clip 52, which is substantially identical to clip 48, also includes an S-shaped portion 54. S-shaped portions 54 and 50 have a resiliency due to the sharp curve by which the S-shaped portions are connected with the planar surfaces containing parallel slots such as 18, 20 shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. Because of that resiliency, when engaged as shown in FIG. 6, boundaries 56 and 58 between the corresponding S-shaped portions snap the convex portions of the S-shaped portions which engage them and thereby lock together, engaging the clips with one another. An opening 60, defined between boundaries 56 and 58, provides an area in which a screwdriver or the like may be inserted and twisted to force clips 48 and 52 apart when it is desired to unlock them. The clips shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 can be connected to bicycle tire inner tubes as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and also attached to a truck body in the same fashion as shown in FIG. 4. When clipped over metal portions on the pickup truck bed, like portions 42 and 44, the clip of FIG. 5 is hooked over the metal portion until the outermost end of the metal portion is received within space 62 of clip 48.

Although the clips in this second illustrated embodiment do not contain lugs and the corresponding openings as in the first described embodiment, it is to be understood that the lugs and openings in which the lugs fit could be included in the second embodiment with S-shaped clips as well as in the first embodiment with U-shaped clips.

FIGS. 5A and 6A illustrate the embodiments of FIGS. 5 and 6 with clips that have respective lugs 47 that are positioned within respective lug receiving openings 51 when the clips are hooked together as shown in FIG. 6A. Like the embodiment of FIG. 1, the lug 47 is shown projecting from the edge 49 of the clip in a direction toward the tube portion 12.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, a third embodiment 64 is constructed in accordance with the present invention. Device 64 includes a clip 66 having a J-shaped portion 68 that is substantially in the plane of the clip 66. In FIG. 8, a second clip 70, which is substantially identical to clip 66, also includes a J-shaped portion 72. The J-shaped portions 72 and 68 are small enough to engage a grommet on a tarpaulin and are also shaped to engage a framework such as a rod, shaft, or sheet metal edge. The clips shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 can be connected to the bicycle tire inner tubes as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and attached to a truck body in the same fashion as shown in FIG. 4. When clipped over metal portions on the pickup truck bed, like portions 42 and 44, the clip of FIG. 7 is hooked over the metal portion until the outermost end of the metal portion is received within space 80 of clip 66.

In FIG. 9, a fourth clip embodiment 82 is also constructed in accordance with the present invention. Clip 82 includes a pair of modified parallel slots 84, 86 formed therethrough. Slots 84 and 86 are formed adjacent a first end 88 of the clip. These slots are open on one end to facilitate engaging the bicycle tire inner tube by threading it through slots 84 and 86. The J-shaped end portion 90 extends from end 92 of the clip and connects with a similar opening in a second clip.

In FIG. 10, three identical clips of this fourth embodiment are used with a single bicycle tire inner tube to secure a tarpaulin 35 over a load such as a load in a pick-up truck bed 34. The J-shaped end portions of the clips which are attached to the ends of the bicycle tire inner tube 32 are attached to projections 33 of the pick-up truck bed 34. The J-shaped end portion of the clip which is located in the middle portion of the bicycle tire inner tube 32 engages a grommet in the tarpaulin 35 and thereby hold it down.

The clips of these embodiments may be manufactured by cutting and then bending sheets of plastic such as ¼ inch thick nylon. Plastics which are relatively heat resistant are preferred so that the clips do not soften too much in heat and direct sunlight. FIG. 11 shows one of those sheets after having been cut out leaving rows of panels, which will later be bent and cut out to form the finished clips. The clips in the sheet are tabbed together at areas such as 94, 96, 98, 100, and 102 to facilitate handling of the sheets. In the next stage of manufacturing, the sheets are bent with a hinging action of one mold portion (the swinging portion) against a fixed second mold. Because of the shape of the clip, a hinging mold is particularly easy to remove from the product after it cools. The swinging first mold and/or the fixed second mold may contain sharpened areas to cut the tabs between adjacent parts while bending the parts.

Having illustrated and described the principles of our invention in a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles. 

We claim:
 1. A clip for engaging a bicycle inner tube to form a strap out of the inner tube, the clip comprising: a body having first and second ends and first and second sides, a first portion of the body being adjacent to a first end of the body and a second portion of the body being adjacent to the second end of the body, a least two slots extending through the first portion of the body, the slots being sized such that the end of a bicycle tire inner tube can be threaded through the slots; the body having hook portion spaced from the first end portion and with the at least two slots positioned between the first end portion and the hook portion, the hook portion defining a void with an opening leading to the void, such that upon threading the bicycle inner tube through the slots, the hook portion can receive the hook portion of another clip or an object to which the hook portion is to be coupled to thereby couple the clip to the hook portion of such another clip or object.
 2. A clip according to claim 1 wherein the hook portion is J-shaped.
 3. A clip according to claim 2 wherein the hook portion overlaps the body.
 4. A clip according to claim 1 wherein there are two slots, one of which extend to the first side of the body and the other of which extends to the second side of the body.
 5. A clip according to claim 1 wherein the hook portion has at least one bend which positions a portion of the hook portion over the body.
 6. A clip according to claim 5 wherein the clip includes a lug receiving slot at the bend and a lug projecting from the second end, such that when two of such clips engage one another, the lug of each clip is inserted into the lug receiving slot of the other clip.
 7. A clip according to claim 5 wherein the at least one bend comprises a first bend at a location spaced from the slots and positioned further from the first end than the slots, the bend doubling the body back on itself such that the second portion of the body overlies a first portion of the body when the clip is in a first orientation, and the second portion of the body comprising a portion having a curved engaging portion between the bend and the second end.
 8. A clip according to claim 7 wherein the bend is shaped such that the second portion of the body adjacent to the bend converges toward the first portion of the body adjacent to the bend.
 9. A clip according to claim 7 wherein the curved engaging portion of first and second clips each comprise an S-shaped portion, the S-shaped portion of the first clip engaging the S-shaped portion of a second clip when first and second clips are positioned to engage one another with the second end of the first clip inserted into the bend of the second clip and the second end of the second clip inserted into the bend of the second clip.
 10. A clip according to claim 9 wherein the bend is shaped such that the second portion of the body adjacent to the bend and the first portion of the body adjacent to the bend converge toward one another at the bend.
 11. A clip according to claim 7 wherein the curved engaging portion is S-shaped in cross section in a direction from the bend to the second end of the body.
 12. A clip according to claim 1 wherein the hook portion and body have upper and lower surfaces that are in the same plane.
 13. A clip according to claim 12 wherein the slots do not extend to the sides of the body.
 14. A clip according to claim 13 wherein the hook portion is a J-shaped hook.
 15. A clip according to claim 14 wherein the J-shaped hook comprises a leg portion and a curved portion, the leg portion extending from the second end portion of the body and the curved portion bending back toward the second end portion of the body from the leg portion.
 16. A clip according to claim 15 wherein the leg portion is positioned with a side edged aligned with one of the first and second sides of the body.
 17. A clip according to claim 16 wherein the hook and body have upper and lower surfaces that are in the same plane.
 18. A clip for engaging a bicycle inner tube to form a strap out of the inner tube, the clip comprising: a body having first and second ends and first and second sides, a first portion of the body being adjacent to a first end of the body and a second portion of the body being adjacent to the second end of the body, a least two slots extending through the first portion of the body, the slots being sized such that the end of a bicycle tire inner tube can be threaded through the slots; the body having a J-shaped hook spaced from the first end portion and with the at least two slots positioned between the first end portion and the J-shaped hook; wherein the slots do not extend to the sides of the body; wherein the J-shaped hook comprises a leg portion and a curved portion, the leg portion extending from the second end portion of the body and the curved portion bending back toward the second end portion of the body from the leg portion; wherein the leg portion is positioned with a side edged aligned with one of the first and second sides of the body; and wherein the hook and body have upper and lower surfaces that are in the same plane, such that upon threading the bicycle inner tube through the slots, the hook is operable to receive the hook portion of another clip or an object to which the hook portion is to be coupled to thereby couple the clip to the hook portion of such another clip or object. 